Tag: Sports - Page 27 - African News Today

Simy Nwankwo Must Leave Crotone To Get Super Eagles Chance Again – Rohr

30Apr

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports, Youths

Simy Nwankwo Must Leave Crotone To Get Super Eagles Chance Again – Rohr

Nigeria head coach Gernot Rohr insists in-form forward Simy Nwankwo must leave modest Serie A side Crotone to boost his chances of playing for the country again. Nwankwo has earned rave reviews due to his superb displays for relegation bound Crotone this season. The 28-year-old has scored 19 league goals for Serse Cosmi’s side this season. Only Inter Milan’s Romelu Lukaku and Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo have registered more goals than him in the Italian top flight this term. The forward has been overlooked by Rohr since the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia where he was named in the squad on the back of his impressive showing for Crotone. “I know Simy very well, it was me who called him for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. He performed well at that competitio...

Pinnick Promises Facelift of Women Football in Nigeria

28Apr

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports, WAFCON

Pinnick Promises Facelift of Women Football in Nigeria

Amaju Pinnick, President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has said that women football in Nigeria deserves more attention than presently obtainable given their persistent laudable performance. He disclosed this while addressing journalists after the conclusion of the Super 6 tournament that was won by Rivers Angels. The Women Football League, NWFL, Super Six Championship was won by Rivers Angels after they defeated Sunshine Queens of Akure 4-0 in Ijebu Ode The victory, which crowned the River State team as champions of the Nigerian Women’s Professional League, also gave the side a ticket to represent the country in the WAFU B zone of the maiden CAF Women Champions League. Pinnick, who was delighted with the outcome of the Super Six said that women’s football deserved mo...

27Apr

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

English Premiership, News, Nigeria, Sports

Iheanacho Downs Crystal Palace in Style

Nigerian striker Kelechi Iheanacho produced another match-winning performance, scoring the winning goal in the Foxes’ 2-1 win against Crystal Palace on Monday. Iheanacho assisted Timothy Castagne for his team to level the tie five minutes after the break before notching the decider 10 minutes before full-time. The goal meant the prolific Nigeria international has now scored 14 goals in his last 14 outings across all competitions for Brendan Rodgers’ side. Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers in his post-match conference said, “It’s a great comparison because he missed a penalty (in the reverse fixture) and his confidence wasn’t high.” “A few months on, he’s a different player. We knew the quality he has, the talent he has, and now he’s getting an opportunity. “We were play...

‘He’s A Different Player ‘ – Rodgers Talks Up Leicester City Hero Iheanacho

27Apr

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

English Premiership, Interview, News, Nigeria, Sports, Youths

‘He’s A Different Player ‘ – Rodgers Talks Up Leicester City Hero Iheanacho

Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers has lavished praises on Kelechi Iheanacho after the forward scored a stunning winner in the Foxes’s 2-1 win against Crystal Palace on Monday night. Iheanacho set up Timothy Castagne for Leicester’s equalising goal five minutes after the interval before netting the decisive strike 10 minutes from time. The Nigeria international has now scored 14 goals in his last 14 outings across all competitions for Brendan Rodgers’ side. “It’s a great comparison, because he missed a penalty (in the reverse fixture) and his confidence wasn’t high,” Rodgers said reflecting on Iheanacho’s improvement. “A few months on, he’s a different player. “We knew the quality he has, the talent he has, and now he’s getting an opportunity. “We were playing a syste...

Villarreal’s Samuel Chukwueze scores in Crunchy Tie Against Barcelona

26Apr

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Nigeria, Sports, Youths

Villarreal’s Samuel Chukwueze scores in Crunchy Tie Against Barcelona

Villarreal speedster Samuel Chukwueze scored the opening goal against Barcelona this afternoon, with a little help from Jordi Alba’s butter boots. Chukwueze is renowned for his devastating pace, so Ronald Koeman will have been thankful to see it was Alba who was 1v1 with the Nigerian as he raced onto a through ball. Unfortunately for Barcelona and Alba, he lost his footing, allowing Chukwueze to gain ground on him, which was always going to prove to be bad news from a Barca perspective. Chukwueze kept his cool, rounded the goalkeeper, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, and found the finish to make it 1-0 to the home side and potentially dent Barca’s title hopes.

UFC: Nigeria’s Usman Beats Masvidal to Retain Welterweight Title

25Apr

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports

UFC: Nigeria’s Usman Beats Masvidal to Retain Welterweight Title

Nigerian UFC sensation Kamaru Usman has beat challenger Jorge Masvidal in round two of their fight to mark the fifth defence of his welterweight title at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. The encounter which marked the first UFC card in front of a full crowd since the outbreak of the COVID-19 saw the Nigerian extend his unbeaten streak to 14 fights. It also proved to be the maiden fight Masvidal was bettered due to strikes in his eight-year UFC run, CompleteSports reports. Usman (19-1) was dominant throughout in terms of takedowns and top control on the ground. Unlike their first meeting in 2020, in which Masvidal accepted the fight on late notice and lost a one-sided decision, the 36-year-old slugger had a full training camp prior to the fight. Usman...

Iheanacho Becomes Sixth Nigerian to Bag at Least 30 EPL Goals

23Apr

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

English Premiership, News, Nigeria, Sports

Iheanacho Becomes Sixth Nigerian to Bag at Least 30 EPL Goals

In form Super Eagles striker, Kelechi Iheanacho has joined the elite list of Nigerians to have netted at least 30 goals in the English Premier League after he scored the last goal in Leicester City’s 3-0 home victory against West Bromwich Albion on Thursday night. The Nigerian registered his name in the score sheet nine minutes before the break after an exciting team move at the King Power Stadium. It marked his ninth goal in the Premier League this campaign. The effort also took the Super Eagles striker’s tally to 13 goals in all competitions in 2021. Iheanacho broke his personal best record of eight goals in a league season which was achieved after 26 matches in the 2015-16 campaign at Manchester City. The striker has now scored 30 goals in 136 appearances for Leicester City ...

Rohr: Ighalo’s Presence Would Have Boosted Goal Scoring Output of Osimhen, Iheanacho

22Apr

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports, Uncategorized

Rohr: Ighalo’s Presence Would Have Boosted Goal Scoring Output of Osimhen, Iheanacho

Super Eagles gaffer, Gernot Rohr has expressed optimism that the presence of former Super Eagles Forward, Odion Ighalo would have improved the finishing of young strikers such as Victor Osimhen and Kelechi Iheanacho. Ighalo called it quits on his time with the Super Eagles after the 2019 African Cup of Nations, AFCON, where the team won the bronze medal after defeating Tunisia in the Third-Place match. He also emerged as the highest goal scorer of the competition and was named in the team of the tournament. Despite speculations of a return to the team during the just concluded 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, however, the German tactician stuck with Osimhen and Iheanacho to qualify Nigeria to the bi-annual tournament. Rohr while speaking in an interview with Elegbete TV, said that Igh...

Musa To Make Pillars Debut Vs Enyimba May 5, Opts Out Of Away Games

20Apr

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports, Youths

Musa To Make Pillars Debut Vs Enyimba May 5, Opts Out Of Away Games

Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa will make his competitive debut for Kano Pillars against Enyimba on May 5, Musa rejoined the Sai Masu Gida on a ‘flexible short-term loan deal’ last week. Musa will however not be available for majority of the club’s away fixtures due to bad roads and security concerns. According to club sources the former Leicester City star will only take part in away games with close proximity to Kano. The winger trained with his new teammates for the first time on Monday morning. Top officials revealed he will not be on a salary, while his bonuses will be donated to charity. Four-time NPFL champions Pillars are joint top of the current league table with Kwara United. The NPFL resumes later this month after a mid-season break.

NFF Assures Falcons Coach, Waldrum of Optimum Support

20Apr

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports, Uncategorized

NFF Assures Falcons Coach, Waldrum of Optimum Support

The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has assured the coach of the Super Falcons, Randy Waldrum, of maximum support in a bid to build a formidable team that the world will reckon with by its performance at major tournaments outside the African continent. The assurance was given by Dr Mohammed Sanusi, NFF General Secretary, during a brief meeting with Waldrum in Abuja. The Federation expressed satisfaction with the performance of the Super Falcons at the Turkish Women’s Tournament, where the team won all their matches against teams such as Uzbekistan, Equatorial Guinea, and CSKA Moscow. He stated that the Amaju Pinnick-led administration was resolute in harnessing available human, material, and non-physical resources and assets to uplift the nine-time African champions to eventual ...